Machine for bending angle iron



C. P. BUCK.

MACHINE FOR BENDING ANGLE IRON.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, I920.

PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. P. BUCK.

MACHINE FOR BENDING ANGLE IRON.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1920.

1922. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 5,

C. P. BUCK.

MACHINE FOR BENDING ANGLE IRON.

APPLICATION FILEII} JUNE I4, I920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

PatenfedSept. 5, 1922 c. P. BUCK. v MACHINE FOR BENDING ANGLE IRON. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14,1920. 1,428,091 Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

wi /mm.-

C. P. BUCK.

, MACHINE FOR BENDING ANGLE IRON. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1920.

1,428,001, Patentedfiept. 5, m2;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

wins:

Patented eph 5, 1922,

1 teaser neonrnn ron nn'nnrne ANGLE Inon.

Application filed time 14, 19 20. se -a0. 238,857;

T 0 all w from it may concern:

Be it known that l, CnARLns P. BUCK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Topeka, in thecounty of Shawnee, Fatate of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in h lachines for Bending Angle Iron, of which the following is'a complete specification.

The present invention relates to machines designed for use in the bending of metal in angle iron form, and aimsto provide an improved apparatus whereby bars of angle iron material may be quickly and effectively bent and formed into rings of a uniform size or diameter.

, Accordingly I have devised a machine in which the bending elements are co-operatively arranged and so operated as to permit the insertion of the angle iron bars at intervals, together w th provision for discharging the rings between the successive bending operations.

In embodying the proposed improve ments in practical form, I make use of a central bed wheel surrounded by a series of co-operating rollers adapted to engage one of the flanges of the angle iron, in addition to which a suitable disc member is mounted for frictional engagement with the said wheel in position for engagingthe other flange of the angle iron and retaining the same in proper position during the bending operation.

It is also sought to provide an apparatus of this character inwhich provision is made for not only permitting the proper insertion of the angle iron. bars in position for the bending operation, but also for effecting the removal or discharge of the angle iron rings from engagement with the bending elements, and accomplishing this removal or dischargeat intervals having a time relation to the other operations of thema chine. v

lVith the foregoing general objects i in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of constructionwhich I have devised for embodying the invention, after which the various novel features therein will be particularly set forth and claimed;

In the drawing: Figure l is a side elevation of a ma chine constructed in accordance with the present invention; i 1

Figure 2is anend view of the same; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, representing a section taken on the line 8- 3 of Figurel; Q I Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line t-d of Fig 1, parts of the machine being represented in different operative positions; s I

Figure 5 is a plan view of the machine 'with one side thereof shown in irregular hor1zontal section;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Figure 4; and v y '1 v Figure 7 is a perspective view of oneof the angle iron rings as produced by the machine, I p

Referring to the drawings in detail, the bed wheel 8 around which the sections of angle iron 9 are carried in the bending operation is fixed to one end ofa shaft '10 p journaled in bearings 12 in the machine frame, designated generally by the refer- ;ence numeral 14, A gear wheel 15 is secured tosaid shaft IO-and driven from a gear 16 mountefdon a shaft 17 journaled in the top of the framework 14:; one end of the shaft 17 carries a gear 18 meshing with a gear 19 on a stub shaft 20 which also carries a gear 21 meshing with a pinion 22 on the drive shaft 23 provided with the fast and loose belt pulleys24l and 25, respec-- tively. 4 x s Arranged at different radial points about the periphery of the bed wheel 8, and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the angle iron 9 being operated upon, is a series of rollers 26 of relatively small diameter, each secured to one end ofashaft 27 having itsopposite end provided with a gear 28in mesh with the gear, 15. The'shaft 27' ofthe uppermost roller 26 ispermitted a slightrocking movementby being journaled ina sliding hearing block 29 adjacent said roller, said block having a stem portion 30 engaged by a swinging counterweight arm 31, pivoted at 32 to the framework 14, the free end of said arm carrying suitable counterweights 33 adapted to apply the requiredpressure to said sliding bearing block and the corresponding IOllGIfZfiIlIl the bending opera} siren srarss Perrier ip-H g, y

tion. A relatively larger roller 34 is carried by the shaft 17 in position for engagement with the periphery of the bed wheel 8 immediately to the rear of said uppermost roller 26, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The arrangement of the several rollers and the gearing ratio of their drive connections is such that they are all driven at the same peripheral speed as the bed wheel 8.

A rotary disc 35 is provided for maintaining the angle iron in position between the wheel 8 and the rollers 26 during the bend ing operation, said disc being mounted on one end of a shaft 36 which is journaled in a. crosshead member 37 mounted slidingly at I its opposite ends in the framework 14, and

also in a bearing 38 at one end of said framework. The shaft 36 is provided at one end with a plunger 39 operating in a cylinder 40 securedto the framework opposite the bearing 38, said cylinder being provided with valve ports 42 communicating with a valve chamber 43 provided with a pipe con nection 44 leading to any suitable source of compressed air supply. A valve rod 45 provided with a pair of valves 46 operates slidingly within the chamber 43 for alternately opening and closing the ports 42. This compressed air operated plunger construction is for the purpose of shifting the position of the disc 35 between successive bending operations and for allowing the discharge and removal of the completed angle iron rings by ejecting mechanism now to be described, and which is also actuated by the movements of said plunger construction.

To the ends of the crosshead member 37 is attached a pair of tie rods 47 which are also connected with the ends of a second crosshead member 48 mounted slidingly within the framework 14. The connections between said crosshead 48 and the rods 47 permit of limited relative sliding movement between shoulders 49 formed on said rods and jam nuts 50 secured to the ends thereof. On that side of the crosshead 48 which faces in the direction of the wheel 8 is pro-- vided a set of ejecting pins 51 so arranged that, on being moved toward said wheel, said pins will just graze the periphery of said wheel, at different points of the circumference thereof.-

This ejecting mechanism is timed to operate at given intervals during the operation of the bending mechanism, for which purpose means is provided for actuating the valves 46 once for each given number of revolutions of the bed wheel 3 and the disc 35. This means comprises a frictional wheel 52, the shaft 53 of which carries a worm 54 meshing with a worm wheel 55 carried by a shaft 56. The shafts 53 and 56 are mounted in the upper end of a rocker arm 57 having an intermediate bearing portion 58 journaled on the framework 14, the lower end of said arm 57 being engaged by an expansion spring 59 which is coiled around a fixed bolt 60; an adjustable nut 61 serves to vary the tension of said spring, which acts to hold the wheel 52 in yielding contact with the periphery of the disc 35. J am nuts 62 are provided on the outer end of the bolt 60 to limit the movement of the arm 57 under the action of said spring 59, as when the disc 35 is moved out of contact with the wheel 52, at which time the latter may drop slightly inward toward the center of the machine; and for facilitating proper reengagement of said disc and wheel, the latter is slightly beveled as shown in Figure 5. The shaft 56 of the worm wheel 55 carries a trip arm 63 which rotates with said shaft and is adapted to intermittently engage a slide bar 64 mounted in guide brackets 65 on the framework 14. One end of a lever 66 projects through a slot 67 in said slide bar 64, said lever 66 being pivoted to a pin 68 and provided at its other end with a fork 69 engaging the valve rod 45. The operative movement of the slide bar 64, when tripped by the arm 63, causes the fork 69 of the lever 66 to engage a collar 70 on the valve rod,

thereby reciprocating the latter to open the inner port 42, to communication with the valve chamber 43, and resulting in disengaging the disc 35 from the wheel 8 by the action of the plunger 39, as illustrated in Figure 4. The drive arrangement from the wheel 52 to the trip arm 63 is designed to operate the latter not oftener than once for every two revolutions of the disc 35.

The separating movement of the disc 35 from the wheel 8 also operates, through the tie rods 47, to project the ejecting pins 51 across the periphery of the wheel 8, for the purpose of removing the ring which has been formed from the angle iron 9, the space between the shoulders 49 and nuts 50 permitting a slight initial movement of the rods 47, so that the disc 35 and wheel 8 are completely separated before the pins 51 engage the angle iron. The movement of the tie rods 47 is also utilized for relieving the sliding bearing block 29 of the upper roller 26, of the weight of the counterweights 33, by causing the shoulder portions 49 of said rods to engage the forked lower ends of arms 71, the other ends of which are secured to a rock shaft 72 journaled in the framework of the machine (see Figure 1); this shaft 72 is provided with a short arm 73 pivoted to the lower end of a lifting link 74, the upper end of which is pivotally connected with the counterweight arm 31.

The shaft 36 which connects the disc 35 with the plunger 39 is provided with a collar 7 5, which is carried by the separating movement of the disc 35 from the wheel 8 into engagement with the intermediate portion of the lever 76, this lever being pivoted atone end to a fixed post 77 and having its other end forked for embracing tion of said rollers and the remaining roll the valve rod 45 and engaging the collar on the opposite side thereof from the lever 66, the lever being retained in engagement with said collar by a washer 7 8 on the end of the rod 45. By this means the movement of thelever 76 by the engagement of the collar efiects a reversal of the position of the valves L6, opening the outerport into communication with the valve chamber ure 2,at one ofthe intervals in the oper-u ation of the machine when the disc '35 is withdrawn from the bed wheel 8, at which time also the counterweights 33 are lifted by the arm 74 on account of the crosshead.

48 being in forward position. Such intervals in the machines operation take place when the plunger 39 is at the outer end of the cylinder 40, as illustrated in Figure 4:; the movement of the plunger into this position has resulted in shifting the valves 46 into the positions represented by the broken lines in said figure, by engagement of the collar 75 with the arm 76. This opens the left hand valve port 42 to the valve chamber 4-3 and opens the right hand port 42 to the atmosphere, with the result that the plunger 39 is forced to the right, carrying the disc 35 into frictional engagement with the bed wheel 8 and with the outwardly projecting flange of the angle iron 9, and thereby serving to maintain the latter crowded in place between said wheel and the co-operating bending rollers 26. The frictional grip between the disc 35 and said wheel 8 is increased by the provision of an annular ring on the face of the disc 35 adapted to be seated in a correspond ingrecess 81 on the face of the wheel 8 (see Figures 4 and 5). The positive driving connections of the bed wheelS and cooper ating rollers 26 and 34; cause the angle iron to follow a course corresponding substan-- tially to the periphery of the wheel 8, the roller 34 of relatively larger diameter being positioned intermediate the first two rollers 26 for co-operating therewith in pro-' ation after passing the roller 34: and the firstrtwo rollers 26 is simply a rolling acers 26 for ironing the bar against the. bed wheel '8, and smoothing outany ridges or. buckled portions, and causing said bar to conform neatly and uniformly to'said bed wheel at all points along its periphery. After a sufficient number of revolutions of the wheel 8, preferably at least 2 as determined by the frictional drive from the disc wheel 52,1119 valve mechanism is operated through the describedtripping mechanism, causing the plunger 39 to be moved outward, thereby shifting the disc 35,'slightly lifting the counter-weights 33 to allow a slight vertical movement of the top roller 26, and then operating the ejecting mechanism. This'results in removing the angle iron ring from the bed wheel 8 and transferring the same into the space between said wheel and the disc '35, where it may drop through to the floor and be removed by hand out of. the

way for the next bending operation. This completes'one cycle of the machines operation, and the further operation of the apparatus is simply a repetition of the. fore-J going. g

It willthus be seen that T have devised a comparatively simple, compact and efficientarrangement and construction for fulfilling the desired objects of the invention, and while I have illustrated what now seems toconstitute the preferred form of construe tion, l desire to reserve the right to make. such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

lVhat l claimis i 1. As machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a series of rollers arranged circumferentially around said w'heelin position for engagement with one of the angle iron flanges and causing the same to-follow the periphery of, said bed wheel, a yieldingly-actuated rollerfor cooperating with the first-named rollers and bed wheel in effecting the bending oper- 'ation, and means for positively drivingsaid rollers and bed wheel uniformly at the same peripheral speed, c p

2. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a

series of rollers arranged ciii'cumferentially around saidwheel in position for engagee ment .with one of the angle iron flanges and 4 causing thesame to follow the periphery of said bed wheel, means in engagement with the other flange of the angle iron for re taining the latter in position between said bed wheel and rollers, andfimeans for positively driving said rollers and bed wheel uniformly at the same peripheral speed.

3. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a

a rent with one of the angle iron flanges, a

counterweighted roller co-operating with said first roller and bed wheel to effect the bending operation, means acting intermittently to e'liect relative separating movement of said eounterweighted roller and bed wheel, and means for positively driving said rollers and bed wheel uniformly at the same peripheral speed.

o. A. machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a

series of rollers arranged circum 'ierentially aroundsaid wheel in position for engagement with one of the angle iron flanges and causing the same to follow the periphery of said bed wheel, means for positively driving said rollers and bed wheel uniformly a the same peripheral speed, and means eating intermittently to remove the angle iron from said bed wheel between. successive bending operations,

6. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising rotating bed wheel, a series of rollers arranged circumferentially around said wheel in position for engagement with one of the angle iron flanges, a counterweighted roller co-operating with said iirsi rollers and bed wheel. to effect the bending operation, means acting intermit tently to effect relative separating movement of said counterweighted roller and bed wheel, I and simultaneously to remove the angle iron from said bed wheel between successive bending operations, and means for positively driving said rollers and bed wheel uniformly at the same peripheral speed.

i. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a series of rollers arranged circumferentially around said wheelin position for engage ment with one of the angle iron flanges and causing the same to follow the periphery of said bed wheel, a disc driven frictionally from said bed wheel and operative to retain the angle iron in position between said bed wheel and rollers means acting intermittently to shift said disc away from said bed wheel for allowing removal of the angle iron between successive bending operations, and means for positively driving said rollers and bed wheel uniformly at the same peripheral speed.

8. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a

series of rollers arranged circumferentially,

around said wheel in position for engagement withone of the angle iron flanges and causing the same to follow the periphery of said bed wheel, a disc driven frictionally from said bed wheel and operative to retain the angle iron in position between said bed causing the same to follow the periphery,

of said bed wheel, means for positively driving said rollers and bed wheel uniformly at the same peripheral speed, and ejecting elements operable crosswise of the periphery of said bed wheel and acting intermittently to remove the angle iron therefrom between successive bending operations.

10. machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a

of rollers arranged circumferentially around said wheel in position for engagement with one of the angle iron flanges, a counterweighted roller co-operating with said first rollers and bed wheel to elfect the bending operation, means acting intermittently to effect relative separating movement of said oounterweighted roller and bed wheel and simultaneously to shift said disc away from said bed wheel and remove the angle iron therefrom between successive bending operations, and means for positively driving said rollers and bed whee]. uniformly at the same peripheral speed.

11. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprisinga rotating bed wheel, a

, series of rollers co-operating with said wheel for effecting the bending operation, a disc driven frictionally from said bed wheel and coaxially therewith and operated to retain the iron in position between said bed wheel and rollers, a fluid pressure plunger operative intermittently to shift said disc coaitially toward and away from said bed wheel to permit removal of the angle iron ring, and valve mechanism operated automatically to control the movements of said plunger.

12. A machine for forming angle iron rings, comprising a rotating bed wheel, a

series of rollers co-operating with said wheel means driven frictionally from said disc to effect movement of said plunger and disc 10 away from said bed wheel after a predetermined number of revolutions of said disc.

In witness whereof 1 hereto aflix my signature.

CHARLES P, BUCK. 

